A concise synthesis of tetrahydroxy-LCB, alpha-galactosyl ceramide, and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-L-ribitol via D-allosamines as key building blocks

Diamino Allose Phosphates: Novel, Potent, and Highly Stable Toll-like Receptor 4 Agonists

Most known synthetic toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonists are carbohydrate-based lipid-A mimetics containing several fatty acyl chains, including a labile 3-O-acyl chain linked to the C-3 position of the non-reducing sugar known to undergo cleavage impacting stability and resulting in loss of activity. To overcome this inherent instability, we rationally designed a new class of chemically more stable synthetic TLR4 ligands that elicit robust innate and adaptive immune responses. This new class utilized a diamino allose phosphate (DAP) scaffold containing a nonhydrolyzable 3-amide bond instead of the classical 3-ester. Accordingly, the DAPs have significantly improved thermostability in aqueous formulations and potency relative to other known natural and synthetic TLR4 ligands. Furthermore, the DAP analogues function as potent vaccine adjuvants to enhance influenza-specific antibodies in mice and provide protection against lethal influenza virus challenges. This novel set of TLR4 ligands show promise as next-generation vaccine adjuvants and stand-alone immunomodulators.

Importance of Co-operative Hydrogen Bonding in the Apramycin-Ribosomal Decoding A-Site Interaction

An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the protonated equatorial 7'-methylamino group of apramycin and the vicinal axial 6'-hydroxy group acidifies the 6'-hydroxy group leading to a strong hydrogen bond to A1408 in the ribosomal drug binding pocket in the decoding A site of the small ribosomal subunit. In 6'-epiapramycin, the trans-nature of the 6'-hydroxy group and the 7'-methylamino group results in a much weaker intramolecular hydrogen bond, and a consequently weaker cooperative hydrogen bonding network with A1408, resulting overall in reduced inhibition of protein synthesis and antibacterial activity.

Synthesis of Thiodisaccharides Bearing N-Acetylhexosamine Residues: Challenges, Achievements and Perspectives

Carbohydrate-protein interactions are involved in a myriad of biological processes. Thus, glycomimetics have arisen as one of the most promising synthetic targets to that end. Within the broad variety of glycomimetics, thiodisaccharides have proven to be excellent tools to study these processes, and even more, some of them unveiled interesting biological activities. This review brings together research made on the introduction of N-acetylhexosamine residues into thiodisaccharides to date, passing through classic substitution (as S_N 2, thioglycosylation and ring-opening reactions) and addition (as thiol-ene coupling and Michael-type additions) reactions. Recent and interesting developments regarding addition reactions to vinyl azides, cross-coupling reactions and novel chemoenzymatic methods are also discussed.

An Efficient and Concise Synthesis of α-Galactosylceramide

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) is described. The key features of the synthetic strategy are the use of a phytosphingosine in which the amine is masked as a tetrachlorophthalimide and the diol as an isopropylidene acetal, and the galactosyl donor is protected as a 4,6-benzylidene to improve the α selectivity of the glycosylation reaction. The pattern of protecting groups on the donor and the acceptor have proven to give an excellent match of reactivity, allowing the glycosylation reaction to take place stereoselectively. The overall synthesis gave α-GalCer in good yields and in few steps.

Synthetic Studies on the Incorporation of N-Acetylallosamine in Hyaluronic Acid-Inspired Thiodisaccharides

Two approaches for the synthesis of the thiodisaccharide β-S-GlcA(1→3)β-S-AllNAc are described here. The target disaccharide was a C-3 epimer and thio-analogue of the hyaluronic acid repetitive unit, tuned with a thiopropargyl anomeric group for further click conjugation. Thus, we analysed and tested two convenient sequences, combining the two key steps required to introduce the thioglycosidic bonds and consequently reach the target molecule: the SN2 substitution of a good leaving group (triflate) present at C-3 of a GlcNAc derivative and the introduction of the anomeric thiopropargyl substituent. The use of a 2-azido precursor showed to be a convenient substrate for the SN2 step. Nevertheless, further protecting group manipulation and the introduction of the thiopropargyl anomeric residue were then required. This approach showed to provide access to a variety of thiodisaccharide derivatives as interesting building blocks for the construction of neoglycoconjugates.

Synthesis of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylallosamine resorcinarene-based multivalent β-thio-glycoclusters: unexpected affinity of N-acetylallosamine ligands towards Wheat Germ Agglutinin

Herein, we report the synthesis of calix[4]resorcinarene-based multivalent ligands bearing β-S-GlcNAc and β-S-AllNAc recognition elements. A clickable β-S-AllNAc derivative was successfully prepared from a β-thioalkynyl GlcNAc precursor, making use of a 2,3-oxazoline intermediate, easily formed by intramolecular displacement of a triflate group located at the 3-position by the 2-N-acetate group. By reaction of these alkynyl-functionalized derivatives with an octaazido-calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycle having undecyl chains, two octavalent glycoclusters exposing the epimeric N-acetylhexosamines were obtained. In addition, a related calix[4]resorcinarene-based glycocluster having methyl groups instead of undecyl chains and β-S-GlcNAc residues was also synthesized. After an initial evaluation of the interaction of the undecyl-functionalized β-S-GlcNAc octavalent derivative with Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) by a turbidimetry experiment, the interaction of the three synthesized glycoclusters towards WGA was studied by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry. The results showed a favorable effect due to the presence of the undecyl chains in terms of affinity. Surprisingly, the β-S-AllNAc octavalent compound showed the highest affinity among the evaluated glycoclusters, showing for the first time that WGA interacts with β-AllNAc-bearing ligands. Molecular docking studies of β-AllNAc with WGA in comparison with β-GlcNAc contributed to the understanding of the atomic interactions responsible for this unexpected affinity.

Synthesis of (1→3) Thiodisaccharides of GlcNAc and the Serendipitous Formation of 2,3-Dideoxy-(1→2)-thiodisaccharides through a Vinyl Azide Intermediate

The syntheses of β-S-GlcA(1→3)GlcNAc and β-S-Gal(1→3)GlcNAc thiodisaccharides, which can be considered mimetics of the repeating units of hyaluronan and keratan respectively, were achieved by S_N2 displacement of a triflate group allocated at the 3-position of a convenient 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-β-d-allopyranose precursor by the corresponding nucleophilic suitable protected thioaldoses derived from glucuronic acid (GlcA) and galactose (Gal). The study of the reaction led to the finding that the vinyl azide formed by competitive E2 reaction of the mentioned triflate was an interesting precursor of a new kind of 2,3-dideoxy-2-azido-(1→2) thiodisaccharides through an addition reaction. Determination of the stereochemistry of the new stereocenter at C-2 was achieved by NOESY experiments. Final protecting group manipulation of the (1→3) thiodisaccharides led to a family of derivatives that could be used as building blocks for the synthesis of complex glycomimetics.

Synthesis of d-Galactosamine and d-Allosamine Derivatives via a Microwave-Assisted Preparation of 1,6-Anhydroglucosamine

We report a microwave-assisted intramolecular anomeric protection (iMAP) of glucosamine, which facilitates concise transformation of 1,6-anhydroglucosamine into 1,6-anhydrogalactosamine and 1,6-anhydroallosamine. The iMAP simultaneously obviates both the O1 and O6 protection, and the differentiation between O3 and O4 can be well-controlled by the N2 functionality because of the hydrogen bonding between N2 and O4. Epimerization of O4 afforded the galactosamine derivative and that of O3 yielded allosamine.

NKT cell-dependent glycolipid-peptide vaccines with potent anti-tumour activity

Glycolipid–peptide conjugates designed to release vaccine components within target cells ensuring potent CD1d dependent T cell responses.

It is known that T cells can eliminate tumour cells through recognition of unique or aberrantly expressed antigens presented as peptide epitopes by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the tumour cell surface. With recent advances in defining tumour-associated antigens, it should now be possible to devise therapeutic vaccines that expand specific populations of anti-tumour T cells. However there remains a need to develop simpler efficacious synthetic vaccines that possess clinical utility. We present here the synthesis and analysis of vaccines based on conjugation of MHC-binding peptide epitopes to α-galactosylceramide, a glycolipid presented by the nonpolymorphic antigen-presenting molecule CD1d to provoke the stimulatory activity of type I natural killer T (NKT) cells. The chemical design incorporates an enzymatically cleavable linker that effects controlled release of the active components in vivo. Chemical and biological analysis of different linkages with different enzymatic targets enabled selection of a synthetic vaccine construct with potent therapeutic anti-tumour activity in mice, and marked in vitro activity in human blood.

Design and synthesis of galactose-6-OH-modified α-galactosyl ceramide analogues with Th2-biased immune responses

In this study, a simple type of O-6 analogue of KRN7000 was synthesized starting from galactosyl iodide and d-lyxose.

Synthesis of ganglioside Hp-s1

The complete synthesis of the ganglioside Hp-s1 (1) is described in 10 steps.

Synthesis of β-C-galactosyl D- and L-alanines

Synthesis of β-C-D-galactosyl D- and L-alanines is carried out via a highly stereoselective Grignard reaction of glycosyl iodides, Sharpless dihydroxylation and S(N)2 displacement of the corresponding mesylate or tosylate. Alternatively, attempted triflation of the intermediate alcohols triggers a stereoselective debenzylative cyclization leading to interesting bicyclic trans-fused compounds.

Benzoylated ethyl 1-thioglycosides: direct preparation from per-O-benzoylated sugars

D-Glucose, lactose, maltose, and melibiose were benzoylated with Bz(2)O-Et(3)N reagent to give fully benzoylated β products. Under the same conditions, D-mannose produced a mixture where the β-benzoate predominated. Treatment of the foregoing compounds with EtSH at slightly elevated temperature (50-60°C) in the presence of BF(3)·Et(2)O as a promoter gave the corresponding ethyl 1-thio glycosides in high yields. The α-products predominated in all cases in the anomeric mixtures formed. Individual products of all reactions were isolated by chromatography, they were obtained in analytically pure state, and were fully characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR data and physical constants.

Structure-activity relationship studies of novel glycosphingolipids that stimulate natural killer T-cells

KRN7000, an anticancer drug candidate developed by Kirin Brewery Co. in 1995, is an α-galactosyl ceramide. It is a ligand making a complex with CD1d protein, and it stimulates invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are one of the lineages of immunocytes. NKT cells activated by recognition of the CD1d/KRN7000 complex with its invariant T-cell receptor (TCR) can induce both protective and regulatory immune responses. To determine the recognition and activation mechanisms of NKT cells and to develop drug candidates more effective than KRN7000, a large number of analogs of KRN7000 have been synthesized. Some of them show potent bioactivities and have the potential of being utilized as therapeutic agents. In this review, structure-activity relationship studies of novel glycolipids which stimulate NKT cells efficiently are summarized.

Toward automated oligosaccharide synthesis

Carbohydrates have been shown to play important roles in biological processes. The pace of development in carbohydrate research is, however, relatively slow due to the problems associated with the complexity of carbohydrate structures and the lack of general synthetic methods and tools available for the study of this class of biomolecules. Recent advances in synthesis have demonstrated that many of these problems can be circumvented. In this Review, we describe the methods developed to tackle the problems of carbohydrate-mediated biological processes, with particular focus on the issue related to the development of the automated synthesis of oligosaccharides. Further applications of carbohydrate microarrays and vaccines to human diseases are also highlighted.

Regioselective one-pot protection of D-glucosamine

A highly regioselective one-pot transformation of 2-azido-2-deoxy-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-trimethylsilyl-d-glucopyranose via sequential additions of various reagents was systematically studied, yielding the fully protected derivatives and the 1-, 3-, 4-, as well as 6-alcohols, respectively.

Bis(oxazolines) based on glycopyranosides - steric, configurational and conformational influences on stereoselectivity

In previous studies we found that the asymmetric induction of bis(oxazolines) based on D-glucosamine strongly depended on the steric demand of the 3-O-substituents. To further probe the impact of the 3-position of the pyranose scaffold, we prepared 3-epimerised and 3-defunctionalised versions of these ligands as well as a 3-O-formyl derivative. Application of these new ligands in asymmetric cyclopropanation revealed strong steric and configurational effects of position 3 on asymmetric induction, further dramatic effects of the pyranose conformation were also observed.

Efficient synthesis of D-xylo and D-ribo-phytosphingosines from methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-hexopyranosides

A general and flexible synthetic approach to biologically important 5,6-unsaturated C(18)-phytosphingosines was developed via olefin cross-metathesis employing truncated C(6)-phytosphingosines as the key intermediates. These were efficiently prepared in high yields by zinc-mediated reductive opening of methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-hexopyranosides. [structure: see text]

Catalytic stereoselective glycosidation with glycosyl diphenyl phosphates: rapid construction of 1,2-cis-alpha-glycosidic linkages

A commercially available 0.1 M solution of HClO(4) in dioxane has been shown to catalyze the glycosidation of glycosyl diphenyl phosphates. The per-O-benzyl-protected glucosyl and galactosyl donors and the 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxygalactosyl donor each react with a range of acceptor alcohols in the presence of 0.05-0.2 equiv of HClO(4) in dioxane/Et(2)O (1:1) to afford glycosides in good yields with good to excellent alpha selectivities. The synthetic utility of this glycosidation method was demonstrated by a stereoselective synthesis of the alpha-galactosylceramide KRN7000, an activator of natural killer (NK) T cells through CD1d molecules.

Alpha-galactosylceramide modulates the induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in antigen presenting cells

The glycolipid alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer), when presented on CD1 molecules by antigen presenting cells (APCs) to invariant NKT (iNKT cells), is a potent immunomodulator. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme catalyzing the catabolism of L-tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway, is inducible in APC and represents one of the main endogenous mechanisms of T cell homeostasis, peripheral tolerance and immunosuppression. No data have been published yet on the effect of alpha-GalCer on IDO in APC. We aimed to determine if: (1) alpha-GalCer modulates IDO in APC; (2) the alpha-GalCer-induced effect on IDO correlates with the production by APC of active compounds; (3) the medium from alpha-GalCer-treated APC is able to stimulate iNKT cells. From our results alpha-GalCer alone did not modify IDO expression (RT-PCR) in APC, but when human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), monocytes, and monocytic cell lines (THP-1), expressing high levels of CD1d, were treated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plus alpha-GalCer a significant potentiation of IDO transcription was measured. This effect was not induced by increased IFN-gamma release by APC, and it was functionally correlated with increased L-kynurenine (L-KYN) release by alpha-GalCer-treated CD1d-transfected THP-1 cells. The medium of these cells stimulated iNKT hybridoma cells to release interleukin (IL)-2, while alpha-GalCer alone resulted ineffective. The data demonstrate that alpha-GalCer: (1) does not induce IFN-gamma release by APC; (2) potentiates IFN-gamma-induced IDO expression and function in APC; (2) requires CD1d molecules for inducing these effects; (3) induces the release by APC of compounds active in stimulating iNKT cells.

Efficient, one-pot syntheses of biologically active alpha-linked glycolipids

Per-O-silylated galactosyl iodides undergo alpha-glycosidation with fully functionalized glycolipids producing biologically relevant conjugates.

Regio- and stereoselective anomeric esterification of glucopyranose 1,2-diols and a facile preparation of 2-O-acetylated glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates from the corresponding 1,2-diols

A highly regio- and stereoselective anomeric esterification of 3-O-allyl (or benzyl, or benzoyl)-4,6-O-isopropylidene-alpha,beta-d-glucopyranose with acetyl chloride, or allyl chloroformate, or ethyl chloroformate gave the corresponding 2-OH, 1-beta-acetates or -carbonates in excellent yields. The 2-OH, 1-beta-acetates were readily converted to the corresponding 2-O-acetylated glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidates by reaction with trichloroacetonitrile via base promoted acetyl migration, while the 2-OH, 1-beta-carbonates were good glycosyl acceptors for the synthesis of (1-->2)-linked oligosaccharides.